Cruickshank (photo via Bellator / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Daron Cruickshank will be competing in his 11th bout tonight, since he exited the UFC in 2016, and recently the striker reflected on his decision to leave the world’s biggest promotion.

Cruickshank’s last UFC bout took place in January, 2016, when he was submitted by Paul Felder in the third round. Since then, “The Detroit Superstar” has gone 6-4, and nine of those bouts have taken place under the RIZIN FC banner.

The American is booked to fight Goiti Yamauchi tonight at Bellator 237, and while talking about his UFC exit recently with the media, Cruickshank said this (quotes via MMA Junkie):

“I was the first UFC fighter to go to RIZIN,” Cruickshank said. “I didn’t leave the UFC on a bad note. I was on a three-fight losing (skid), and they were basically like, ‘You’re not going to fight for six to eight months.’ Me being me, I like to fight often. I was like, ‘I’ve got to fight, guys.’ They were like, ‘We can release you and you can go somewhere else.’ I was like, ‘OK, let’s do that.’ Right out of the gate, I got a fight like a month after with RIZIN.

“The UFC is not the only place to fight. They are the name-brand, but other companies are coming up and they’re getting some eyes. The good thing for the fighter is that they have more options. With more options comes better deals. The organizations are going to be fighting over the people that are exciting.”

Bellator 237 will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.